A career as a signaller

[jdxn]

I've never worked a set of nights while learning a box - just an odd one here and there, to handle something specific (eg a T3, regular recurring line blockages or depot shunting). Don't think I did any prior to passing out at my current location!

It depends on the location. Some places after a few early weeks you go onto a nights and days roster. Part of it depends on what and where you are. There is no point in doing nights if there are no trains. Some places have a service all night plus complex T3 and other engineering work, or depots emptying/filling up a night (or indeed both). There there is a need and value from doing a mixed roster.

 

[Sunset route]

I've never worked a set of nights while learning a box - just an odd one here and there, to handle something specific (eg a T3, regular recurring line blockages or depot shunting). Don't think I did any prior to passing out at my current location!

It”s something that our new learners are going to have to get used to along with weekend work whilst they are on the learners roster. Which was specifically designed to introduce them to the various issues they will face when they become qualified and rotating on one of our two main rosters.

 

[Highlandspring]

Hi folks, do any of you know if credit checks are performed before confirming an offer for a signalling position? Have a bit of adverse history on my file and I’m just wondering if it’s worth mentioning to HR before they uncover some things that they may not like the look of. Thanks

I believe all new entrants to NR now go through some sort of basic security check as a result of the company recently transferring to the public sector and controlling critical national infrastructure, though what form it takes I’m not 100% sure. It may well be a Baseline Personal Security Standard check which I believe doesn’t look at credit history. There are certain roles within Network Rail which require a proper CTC vetting clearance but signaller isn’t one of them. The less said about that aspect of things online the better.

As for nights and Sundays when training, this is just another one of those things that varies by area. Some LOMs are keen on it and some aren’t bothered. Some areas will have a trainee just work office hours, some have a set roster for trainees, some will have them follow a particular signaller’s roster and some let them pick and choose their hours. From experience it can be a very long night stuck with a trainee in a remote signalbox with nothing to do and you ran out of small talk 6 hours ago...

 

[Tom Quinne]

Hi folks, do any of you know if credit checks are performed before confirming an offer for a signalling position? Have a bit of adverse history on my file and I’m just wondering if it’s worth mentioning to HR before they uncover some things that they may not like the look of. Thanks

Unless your going to accept bribes from drivers to let them run early then you’ve nothing to worry about, credit checks aren’t carried out.

 

[Tom Quinne]

It”s something that our new learners are going to have to get used to along with weekend work whilst they are on the learners roster. Which was specifically designed to introduce them to the various issues they will face when they become qualified and rotating on one of our two main rosters.

A lad at our place asked if he could not work weekends and nights

The sooner you get used to it the better, it’s potentially the next 40 years of your life !

 

[Saracen_83]

If I was ever successful, I’d want to get into the shift pattern as soon as possible so I could adjust as quickly as possible and become competent at all hours of the day night and weekend etc, especially with the different aspects of the job at different times of the day/night.....

also it would help my family get used to it as well help me organise social life.

As mentioned above it potential 30-40 years of life and quicker your into the swing of it, surely the better???

 

[Highlandspring]

Equally there is a school of thought that in the more lackadaisical areas your box training is the last chance you’ll get to come and go more or less as you please while getting paid, so take advantage of it while you can...

It always used to be the case that if management phoned or visited the box wanting to speak to a trainee then they’d be told that he had “just left a minute ago” regardless of how many hours he’d been away for. In a single manned box having a trainee is fine for a few hours but can get very wearing if they’re around for the whole shift, every shift. Signallers don’t receive any guidance on how to effectively train anyone, or any extra payment for doing so, and are rarely asked whether or not they mind having a trainee on their shift despite being ultimately responsible for everything the trainee does. Personalities play a huge part with some signallers welcoming the chance to have someone to deliver a long rambling monologue at, while some detest having to share a confined space with a total stranger. Equally some trainees can be very hard work indeed. Even just using the toilet in a box which can be the size of your living room at home with a simple plasterboard partition wall separating off the bog can be.. interesting. What I’m trying to get across is that there needs to be a bit of give and take; if you’re starting in a box just be mindful of the signaller who, for better or worse, has the responsibility of teaching you how to be a signaller.

 

[uww11x]

Application Under Review
16-Jan-2018 22:25:14
Application Accepted
17-Jan-2018 07:12:27
Application Under Consideration
17-Jan-2018 13:56:55
Test Completed
17-Jan-2018 14:18:55
Test Completed
17-Jan-2018 18:03:2
Application Under Consideration
06-Feb-2018 14:36:39


Does it usually take this long?

 

[BRblue]

Application Under Review
16-Jan-2018 22:25:14
Application Accepted
17-Jan-2018 07:12:27
Application Under Consideration
17-Jan-2018 13:56:55
Test Completed
17-Jan-2018 14:18:55
Test Completed
17-Jan-2018 18:03:2
Application Under Consideration
06-Feb-2018 14:36:39


Does it usually take this long?

Yes it can unfortunately and in my experience normally does...

 

[choochoobacca]

Application Under Review
16-Jan-2018 22:25:14
Application Accepted
17-Jan-2018 07:12:27
Application Under Consideration
17-Jan-2018 13:56:55
Test Completed
17-Jan-2018 14:18:55
Test Completed
17-Jan-2018 18:03:2
Application Under Consideration
06-Feb-2018 14:36:39


Does it usually take this long?

And often much much longer I'm afraid, if my experiences to date are anything to go by. Patience and persistence of applying is king it seems...

 

[uww11x]

And often much much longer I'm afraid, if my experiences to date are anything to go by. Patience and persistence of applying is king it seems...

Cheers.

 

[Sunset route]

A lad at our place asked if he could not work weekends and nights

The sooner you get used to it the better, it’s potentially the next 40 years of your life !

We’ve got 11 new recruits either just started signalling school or are just about to (a few of them have posted on this thread). If there was no structure to the learning via a dedicated learners rosters then they would all be tripping over each other trying to get learning turns. That’s why our staff reps LOMs agreed a learners roster, so that LOMs, existing signallers, roster clerks and the new recruits themselves has some idea and structure to their learning. Because for most of our panels it takes about 4 months to learn as a first panel, then with the pace picking up as they pass through the rest of the panels.

 

[Tom Quinne]

A plan ready to roll once the trainees get back from school....

 

[Dispatcher999]

Has anyone heard anything about the Cambridge Grade 7? Unfortunately I didn’t meet the cut at the assessment stage so applied for the Crossing keeper positon that was Grade 2 to get my foot in the door. thats still at test complete stage. I wonder whether they’ll fill the signaller positions first before thinking about selecting for the Crossing keeper positons. Anyone in the know?

 

[Saracen_83]

Not in the know, but I applied and just sitting at test complete...... since Feb

 

[Dispatcher999]

Not in the know, but I applied and just sitting at test complete...... since Feb

Clearly in no rush :/

 

[tiptoptaff]

My application was marked unsuccessful over a month ago, it was nice of them to tell me....

 

[Saracen_83]

I’m expecting mine to go to unsuccessful, presuming they just forgot to change my status!!!!

 

[MylesHSG]

Just caught up on dozens of pages since my last visit. I've been passed out now for a year now and enjoying the job, though I am very fortunate to have a pretty amazing roster and a grade 3 with inner London allowance and Sundays etc etc my yearly pay was very healthy.

Just a note, don't give up. You need to have lots of patience with the application process and don't be disheartened by a couple of failures.

 

[Teddyward]

I've applied for 7 so far .2 unsuccessful, 3 Sat at test complete, 2 under consideration.

 

[Dispatcher999]

I've applied for 7 so far .2 unsuccessful, 3 Sat at test complete, 2 under consideration.

Goodness! how have you managed 7? Are you willing to move anywhere in the country?

 

[Saracen_83]

I’ve applied for 6, however based on others post previously, some have applied to 20+

 

[Teddyward]

Goodness! how have you managed 7? Are you willing to move anywhere in the country?

Not really. I’ve set myself a realistic maximum of 1 hour journey. Only one was above this.

 

[choochoobacca]

I’ve applied for 6, however based on others post previously, some have applied to 20+

I’ve applied for approximately 35 positions (including a talent pool for future vacancies) across 10 locations, over 5 months, from grade 2-9. I’ve got my fair share of unsuccessful, one interview to come, one unsuccessful interview, several at under consideration and several at test completed. Some of the positions I’ve applied for more than once, as they’ve been relisted. Just got to keep plugging away and staying hopeful. I’ll keep applying as long as positions come up within my scope of relocation. Think it’s that kind of job to be honest, needs a lot of patience and persistence or a bit of luck to get in. Good luck to us all!

 

[choochoobacca]

Does anybody know if the interview for a level crossing gatekeeper is the same sort of format as for a signaller? Non-technical skills based questions etc?

 

[Sinistah]

If you mean crossing keeper then yes it is mate. I went for a crossing keeper grade 1 position recently and it was exactly same interview as for grade 6 Arundel. I did 1 interview for the 2 positions.

 

[choochoobacca]

If you mean crossing keeper then yes it is mate. I went for a crossing keeper grade 1 position recently and it was exactly same interview as for grade 6 Arundel. I did 1 interview for the 2 positions.

Thanks Sinistah. Hope you had/get a positive result from your interviews. Good luck!

 

[Teddyward]

I’m expecting mine to go to unsuccessful, presuming they just forgot to change my status!!!!

Have a login. Mine for Cambridge changed to unsuccessful just now.

 

[Saracen_83]

Have a login. Mine for Cambridge changed to unsuccessful just now.

Yup me2.......

 

[Dispatcher999]

Yup me2.......

Me 3...